If you haven't yet discovered Ragnar Jonasson's outstanding Dark Iceland mystery series, now is the perfect time to start. Influenced in equal measure by the stunning beauty of Iceland and the equally stunning plotting of Queen of Crime Agatha Christie, these books will make the perfect choice for winter reading material - or for any season, really. On December 5th, 2017, American readers are in for a treat: the second book in the Dark Iceland series, NIGHTBLIND, will be released in the US! To help celebrate this upcoming publication - and to entice readers unfamiliar with Jonasson’s work to dig into his series - I’m thrilled to provide you with an insider’s glimpse into Siglufjörður, the Icelandic town that provides the backdrop for this internationally-bestselling crime fiction series.

Readers around the world have been captivated by Jonasson’s lyrical, vivid portrayal of this small fishing town on the northern coast of Iceland, and today’s blog post will give you a sense of the incredible beauty of the land central to this series—a beauty which Jonasson masterfully represents in the Dark Iceland books. Readers will discover so much to love in the Dark Iceland books, from their gorgeous backdrop (which we're about to explore!) to their classic crime-inspired tone to the engaging, endearing characters found within them. In the US, the Dark Iceland series includes (so far!): SNOWBLIND (on sale now!) and NIGHTBLIND (releasing 12/5/17). In today's blog post, you'll get a sense of the town of Siglufjörður - from a few fun facts abut the town, to a mini-Q&A with Jonasson about why he chose to set his Dark Iceland series, to an absolutely stunning photo tour with commentary from Jonasson himself!

Now, join me for a photo tour of Siglufjörður, with Ragnar Jonasson as our guide!

How Do I Pronounce "Siglufjörður"?

First things first: this handy YouTube video (courtesy of YouTube channel Cool Icelandic Lessons) will teach you how to pronounce this town name! Skip to minute 1:00 to hear Siglufjörður pronounced.

Where in the world is Siglufjörður?

Siglufjörður is a small fishing town on the northern coast of Iceland. You'll see it highlighted on the map below!

Image courtesy of The Herring House.

A few fun facts about the town:

Town Population: 1,230
Distance from Reykjavik: Approx. 235 miles; 4 hours & 45 minute drive
Nearest Airport: 1-hour drive, Akureyri
Daylight Hours: Siglufjörður experiences midnight sun from June 9 to July 1. On December 21st, the shortest day of the year, Siglufjörður has only 2 hours and 39 minutes of daylight.

Mini Q&A with Ragnar Jonasson:

Crime by the Book: Could you tell us about why you chose to set the Dark Iceland series in Siglufjordur?

Ragnar Jonasson: I chose Siglufjörður as the setting for my Dark Iceland series because I have a very strong personal connection to the town. My grandparents used to live there and my father grew up there. We still own their house and visit every chance we get. The house is still in its original form and being there is like visiting old times, full of memories. I think my first visit there was when I was 3 months’ old. Siglufjörður is also a perfect setting for a crime novel due to its isolation and harsh elements. Daylight is scarce in wintertime and the town can be easily blocked off from the outside world when it starts snowing.

CBTB: In Book 1 in the series, SNOWBLIND, the town is cut off from the rest of the country when a blizzard blocks off the one road that goes into and from the town. Is this possible in real life? Have you heard stories of this happening?

RJ: Yes, this is very much the reality of Icelanders who live outside of Reykjavik. Siglufjörður is surrounded by sea and mountains and is only accessible through a mountain tunnel. Sometimes weather and road conditions make it impossible to access the town, especially before the second tunnel into town was opened, in 2010. They regularly have to close the road due to risk of avalanches, and the most recent avalanche closed one of the roads into town as recently as this November.

CBTB: Do you have any personal favorite locations in Siglufjordur?

RJ: I love to walk to the marina and breathe in the fresh sea air and take in the scenery.

Photo Tour: Siglufjörður
With Ragnar Jonasson

I can truly say that the below photos of Siglufjörður took my breath away. It’s hard to imagine a part of the world more stark and beautiful—I have now added visiting Siglufjörður to my bucket list! Thanks to the stunning images below, we will explore the town that inspired Jonasson’s Dark Iceland series, and Jonasson himself will provide some wonderful commentary on the beautiful scenes pictured here!

Note: you can click on any photo in this post to enlarge it.

Many thanks to Sigurdur Aegisson for allowing me to use the below photos for this Photo Tour. All photos are property of Sigurdur Aegisson, and may not be reproduced without permission.

Ragnar: Siglufjörður in wintertime is a great place for skiing, and often picture postcard perfect, as there are not many towns in Iceland, if any, with as much snowfall as Siglufjörður.

Ragnar: The tranquility is one of the best things about Siglufjörður. The pace of life there is very different from big cities.

Ragnar: The current church (featured in Snowblind) with its distinguishable red bell tower was built in 1932 but there has been a church in Siglufjörður since 1614.

Ragnar: The times are changing. The green building in the center of the photo is a brand new boutique hotel and as you can see the architecture is very much in line with the atmosphere of the town. Fish has always been the lifeline of Siglufjördur, but tourism is becoming ever more important.

Ragnar: Strákagöng is a single track tunnel that is 830 meters long. Before Strákagöng, the only way to get to Siglufjörður was by sea or by air, or by a very difficult mountain road which was only open in the height of summer.

CBTB: The plot of the first book in the Dark Iceland series, SNOWBLIND, is centered around a snowstorm that blocks off the tunnel leading to and from town, essentially turning a whole town into a "locked room mystery." Learn more about SNOWBLIND here!

Ragnar: Strákagöng, a tunnel that takes you to Siglufjörður, was opened in 1967. Not for the claustrophobics.

Ragnar: This never gets old. I am always lost for words when I see the Northern Lights, and they rarely shine anywhere brighter than in the north of Iceland.

And that concludes our photo tour of Siglufjörður! Many, many thanks to Ragnar Jonasson and the beautiful photographer Sigurdur Aegisson for making this blog post possible - what an absolute pleasure to be able to share these stunning photos with you today!

To delve into the world of Siglufjörður even more, make sure to pick up Jonasson's Dark Iceland books - and stay tuned for a fantastic Q&A with author Ragnar Jonasson coming next week, where he and I discuss his newest US series installment, NIGHTBLIND. Grab a copy of SNOWBLIND and pre-order NIGHTBLIND via the links below!

Find SNOWBLIND Here // Find NIGHTBLIND Here

Featured

Aug 23, 2019

3 Late-Summer Must-Read Thrillers

Aug 23, 2019

Summer might be winding down, but this season’s fantastic lineup of new crime fiction releases shows no sign of letting up. Whether you’re in the mood for a new psychological thriller, a serial killer novel set in Denmark, or a spine-tingling suspense novel with horror undertones, the end of summer 2019 has the book for you - and I’m rounding them up for you in this post! Here you’ll find three must-read late-summer thrillers from established masters of the genre and newcomers alike. Read on for book recommendations for your end-of-summer TBR!

Aug 23, 2019

Aug 13, 2019

Book Review: THE TURN OF THE KEY by Ruth Ware

Aug 13, 2019

Every summer, there’s one thing I look forward to arguably more than anything else: the newest novel by Ruth Ware. And every summer, without fail, Ruth Ware outdoes whatever brilliant novel she delivered the year prior. Ware’s 2019 release is no exception - THE TURN OF THE KEY is Ware’s best novel yet. Equal parts old-school gothic suspense and modern psychological thriller, THE TURN OF THE KEY seamlessly blends an homage to Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw with a page-turning story of surveillance, paranoia, and domestic drama. Following a young woman who accepts a nannying position at a state-of-the-art smart house in the Scottish Highlands, only to wind up imprisoned for the death of one of the children in her care, THE TURN OF THE KEY is one of the most binge-worthy, genuinely addictive suspense novels you will read this summer. It’s a truth universally acknowledged that if Ruth Ware writes a suspense novel, yours truly will read it and love it, but THE TURN OF THE KEY blew even this die-hard Ruth Ware fan away. If you haven’t already picked up Ruth Ware’s newest, add it to your TBR immediately. I’m calling it right now: this is one of my favorite books of 2019.

Aug 13, 2019

Aug 4, 2019

Book Preview: THE STRANGER INSIDE by Lisa Unger

Aug 4, 2019

If you’ve been a crime fiction fan for even a short while, there’s a very good chance you’ve heard of Lisa Unger—and if you haven’t heard of her yet, not to worry, today’s post will serve as the perfect introduction to this prolific author’s work. Lisa Unger is the New York Times bestselling author of seventeen novels, including her forthcoming release THE STRANGER INSIDE. Lisa Unger’s novels have been published in twenty-six languages, and Lisa has received multiple Edgar Award nominations, among numerous other accolades. Her books have been selected as “Best of the Year” picks by the Today Show, Good Morning America, Entertainment Weekly, Amazon, IndieBound, and many, many more. I could go on, but you get the picture: Lisa Unger is a master of the suspense genre with a huge readership around the world. And today on CBTB, I’m so thrilled to spotlight Lisa’s forthcoming release THE STRANGER INSIDE, available September 17th from Park Row.

Aug 4, 2019

Book Review: THE HEART KEEPER by Alex Dahl

Aug 4, 2019

What do you get when you cross Scandinavian sensibility with psychological suspense? Enter Alex Dahl’s unputdownable, wholly original brand of Nordic psychological thriller. On the heels of 2018’s excellent The Boy at the Door, Dahl’s 2019 release THE HEART KEEPER delivers a story of motherhood and grief even more emotionally impactful and addictive than Dahl’s first US outing. In THE HEART KEEPER, tragedy strikes a Norwegian family, and their young daughter passes away. But somewhere else in Norway, another family’s life is changed for the better when their young girl receives the call that she’s been waiting for her whole life: a donor heart has been found for her, at long last. As the paths between the two families slowly but surely converge, a mother’s grief turns to dark obsession. THE HEART KEEPER is a slow-burn story, but don’t let its pacing fool you: this book is utterly riveting with just the right amount of juicy drama—the kind of novel you’ll find yourself turning off the TV just to keep reading. The visceral emotion on display in this story, and Dahl’s uncanny ability to write characters whose twisted actions do nothing to diminish our sympathy for them, make THE HEART KEEPER a Summer 2019 standout. Alex Dahl continues to distinguish herself for her compelling blend of Nordic and domestic noir, and THE HEART KEEPER is another feather in the cap of this up-and-coming crime fiction star.

Aug 4, 2019

Jul 18, 2019

Q&A: Alex Dahl, Author of THE HEART KEEPER

Jul 18, 2019

Some books stick with you long after you’ve turned their final page. For me, Alex Dahl’s newest suspense novel THE HEART KEEPER was such a book—and I’m absolutely thrilled to welcome Alex to CBTB today to discuss her intense, emotionally-resonant new release with us! If you’re not yet familiar with Alex Dahl’s work, consider this the perfect opportunity to dip into her world. Dahl is a Norwegian author whose books bridge the gap between Scandinavian sensibility and modern, razor-sharp psychological suspense. Dahl’s writing is easy to devour, but it’s got very sharp teeth; her books put womanhood under the microscope, wrapping resonant social commentary up in binge-worthy suspense plots. Dahl’s debut novel THE BOY AT THE DOOR released in the U.S. last year, and this week, she’s back. In THE HEART KEEPER, Dahl explores the powerful force of a mother’s love in the face of tragedy—and considers what happens when that tragedy drives an ordinary person to do unthinkable things. THE HEART KEEPER is in many ways a quiet novel - it’s not a story of rip-roaring action or shocking violence - but its underlying intensity and emotional charge make it utterly unputdownable. I loved Dahl’s newest novel, and was thrilled to have the opportunity to ask her a few of my most pressing questions about it!

Jul 18, 2019

Jul 11, 2019

Q&A: Sandie Jones, Author of THE FIRST MISTAKE

Jul 11, 2019

Still on the hunt for the perfect domestic thriller to bring on your next vacation? Look no further: Sandie Jones’ THE FIRST MISTAKE is the book for you. Twisty and shocking, THE FIRST MISTAKE takes a relatively familiar suspense setup - a wife who fears her spouse is being unfaithful - and pushes it in addictive, jaw-dropping new directions. Sandie Jones made a splash with her debut novel The Other Woman, which was a selection for Reese Witherspoon’s book club and a New York Times bestseller… but I actually loved THE FIRST MISTAKE even more. This book is a perfect example of what I like to call “popcorn reading”: an utterly entertaining story that you’ll want to binge-read in one or two sittings. Fans of B.A. Paris, J.P. Delaney, and Shari Lapena will absolutely love the domestic drama, plot twists, and chilling suspense Sandie Jones serves up in THE FIRST MISTAKE. I’m thrilled to welcome Sandie Jones to CBTB today to talk all things THE FIRST MISTAKE! In this blog post, you’ll find all the details on Sandie’s newest release, an excerpt from my review of this deliciously addictive suspense read, and, of course, my conversation with Sandie.

Jul 11, 2019

Jul 9, 2019

Book Review: KNIFE by Jo Nesbø

Jul 9, 2019

I never re-read crime books… unless it’s a novel by Jo Nesbø, and then all bets are off. As I write this review, I’ve already read Nesbø’s newest - and arguably best - crime novel KNIFE twice, and between me and you, I’ll probably read it again before the year is out. A new Nesbø novel is always a cause for celebration (bonus when it’s released right after my birthday, as KNIFE was this year!), but KNIFE is something really special. It’s got everything Nesbø readers have come to expect from Scandinavia’s reigning crime fiction king: a layered plot, a gritty atmosphere, immersive pacing, plenty of very convincing red herrings, and, of course, our beloved troubled detective Harry Hole. But KNIFE is a departure from its immediate series predecessors, too, and it’s here that KNIFE really shines. By dialing back on the overt gore that defined 2017’s The Thirst, Nesbø gives his razor-sharp prose and superb character development room to shine in KNIFE. This is undoubtedly Nesbø’s darkest story yet, and it’s also his most emotionally affecting - a potent combination that will get under your skin as much as it will keep you turning pages. Nesbø is at his best when putting Norwegian detective Harry Hole through his worst, and KNIFE might just be the best installment yet in this exceptional crime series. Nothing will be the same for Harry - or Harry’s loyal readers - after KNIFE.

Jul 9, 2019

Jul 1, 2019

Book Review: LOCK EVERY DOOR by Riley Sager

Jul 1, 2019

If you pack one book in your beach bag this summer, make it Riley Sager’s razor-sharp take on gothic suspense: LOCK EVERY DOOR, available July 2nd. You know those authors who just seem to get better and better with each new book? Sager is one of them, and LOCK EVERY DOOR cements him as a staple of any psychological thriller reader’s library. Blending horror tropes with spine-tingling suspense and juicy, just-one-more-page intrigue, LOCK EVERY DOOR invites readers inside one of New York’s most exclusive addresses—a place that might never let its readers - or its residents - go. Enter the Bartholomew: a (fictional) high-end apartment building overlooking Central Park. When down-on-her-luck protagonist Jules secures a position as an apartment-sitter in the Bartholomew, she can hardly believe her luck. But as Jules settles in and befriends a fellow apartment-sitter, she begins to worry that this beautiful building hides within its walls secrets darker than she could have ever imagined. In LOCK EVERY DOOR, Sager crafts a page-turning story of gothic suspense worthy of a place alongside the horror classics that inspired it. Protagonist Jules is a relatable and compelling millennial: a young woman struggling against the odds to make a life for herself, who just so happens to accept a job that might be her last. In the Bartholomew, nothing is as it seems. Enter at your own risk.

Jul 1, 2019

Jun 25, 2019

Q&A: M.T. Edvardsson, Author of A NEARLY NORMAL FAMILY

Jun 25, 2019

It’s an absolute pleasure to welcome M.T. Edvardsson to Crime by the Book today to give us the inside scoop on his first crime novel to come to the United States. A NEARLY NORMAL FAMILY hits American bookstores today, June 25th, and what an absolute gem of a crime novel it is. Told in three distinct “parts,” A NEARLY NORMAL FAMILY probes the limits of how far an ordinary family would go to protect one of their own. It might be set in Sweden, but what makes this story so impactful is its universality; the themes Edvardsson explores here will feel relevant whether you’re in Scandinavia like the story’s central family, in New York like I am as I write this, or anywhere in between. Edvardsson’s assured and thought-provoking crime novel is a little bit Nordic Noir, a little bit legal thriller, a little bit family drama—and when taken as a whole, it’s one of this summer’s most compelling suspense stories. I’m thrilled to welcome M.T. Edvardsson to CBTB today to give us an inside scoop on this outstanding new release! In today’s blog post, you will find plot details for a NEARLY NORMAL FAMILY, a selection of early praise the book has already received, a snippet from my review, and, of course, my conversation with the author. Huge thanks to the team at Celadon Books for facilitating this Q&A, and to M.T. Edvardsson for taking the time to answer my questions! A NEARLY NORMAL FAMILY is available now at your favorite bookseller.

Jun 25, 2019

Jun 10, 2019

Book Review: THE FIRST MISTAKE by Sandie Jones

Jun 10, 2019

Sandie Jones made a splash last summer with her debut suspense novel THE OTHER WOMAN, a New York Times bestseller and a pick for Reese Witherspoon’s book club—and she’s back this summer, and better than ever, with THE FIRST MISTAKE. A juicy, page-turning story of marital secrets, THE FIRST MISTAKE takes a familiar plot - a wife who suspects her husband might be hiding something from her - and turns it on its head. Following Alice, her husband Nathan, and her best friend Beth, THE FIRST MISTAKE unravels a layered story of deceit and betrayal… and I’m betting even the most seasoned suspense reader will be genuinely shocked by the twists author Sandie Jones has in store. Sophomore novels have a reputation for being particularly tricky to get right, but Sandie Jones has executed hers effortlessly; I thoroughly enjoyed last year’s THE OTHER WOMAN, but I liked THE FIRST MISTAKE even more. This book is pure pleasure reading. For readers of fan-favorite domestic thrillers Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris and Lie To Me by J.T. Ellison, THE FIRST MISTAKE is the perfect beach read: a story of what happens when happily ever after goes wrong.

Jun 10, 2019